Investment from overseas totaled $8.45 billion last month, after expanding 19.8 percent in July, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on its website yesterday. For the first eight months, investment rose 17.7 percent to $77.63 billion.

Businesses are turning to China to bolster sales as rising unemployment and government indebtedness damp confidence in developed nations. Premier Wen Jiabao said on Sept. 14 the country will continue opening its economy to investors and encourage consumption to drive growth. China’s economy grew 9.5 percent in the second quarter, from a year earlier.

“China remains the only bright spot amid the global financial turmoil,” Li Huiyong, an economist with Shanghai- based SWS Research Co., said before the announcement yesterday. “Investment returns in China remain high and local authorities are keen to attract funds for new businesses,” he said.